Upright ice cube tray



March 9, 1965 B. KNEPPER UPRIGHT Ica cuss TRAY Filed sept. 9, 196s Fig.

Bonn/e Knemer INVENTOR. wh.

United States Patent O 3,172,273 UIRIGHT ICE CUBE TRAY Bonnie Knepper, 406 11th St., De Witt, Iowa Filed Sept. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 307,453 3 Claims. (Cl. 62--366) This invention relates to a novel and useful upright ice cube tray assembly and more specifically to an upstanding divider assembly adapted to be snugly disposed in an upright and open topped container for forming a plurality of water receiving compartments within the container in which ice cubes may be formed when the container is tilled with water and placed in an area in which the temperature of the ambient atmosphere is below that temperature at which water freezes.

The ice cube tray divider assembly of the instant invention is constructed in a manner whereby the ice cubes formed may be readily broken loose from the divider assembly. While conventional ice cube tray divider assemblies have been constructed including means whereby the ice cubes formed thereby may be readily broken therefrom by using a divider assembly including a plurality of relatively movable compartment forming members and suitable means for forcing movement of the compartment forming members relative to each other, the conventional divider assemblies are adapted for use in connection with relatively shallow trays as opposed to upright containers and therefore they are not well suited for use with upright containers.

While a plurality of shallow ice cube ltrays may be stacked so as to be stored in an area having a greater height than length or width, stacked ice cube trays have a tendency to fall and accordingly it is in most instances more advantageous to have an upright ice cube tray but including a divider assembly specifically designed therefor which may be utilized to form a plurality of individual ice cube forming compartments in the upright container and which is constructed in a manner whereby the ice cubes formed may be readily dislodged therefrom.

Accordingly, it is the main object of this invention to provide an ice cube tray divider assembly specifically designed for use in conjunction with an upstanding carton or container.

' A further object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide an upright ice cube tray divider assembly constructed in a manner whereby the ice cubes formed may be readily dislodged therefrom.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an upright ice cube tray divider assembly including means for dislodging the ice cubes formed thereby by means of an extremely readily operable actuator.

Another object of this invention is to provide an ice cube tray divider assembly which is particularly well adapted to be snugly received within an upright container constructed of fibrous material and coated with a water-proof coating and including means by which the sides of the container may be readily -torn from the ice cube tray divider assembly and the ice cubes supported thereby.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide an ice cube tray divider assembly constructed in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects' and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accom- CTL ICC

panying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the ice cube tray divider assembly of the instant invention shown disposed within a disposable upright container and with one wall of the container being torn from the tray divider assembly and the`ice cubes defined thereby and the top of the container shown in exploded relation;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal sectional view passing through the ice cube tray divider assembly and with the container shown in phantom lines;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 3--3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 4-4 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicatedY by the section line 5 5 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 6--6 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the upright ice cube tray divider of the instant invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and is illustrated in FIGURE l of the drawings disposed within an upright carton or container generally referred to by the reference numeral 12 including a removable closure cover 14.

The container 12 is preferably constructed of fibrous material and covered with a plastic coating on at least its inner surfaces and therefore is very much like the cardboard cartons in which fresh milk is sold. The carton 12 includes a plurality of upstanding sides 16, 1S, 20 and 22 interconnected by means of an integral bottom 24 and in the corners of the carton dened between adjacent ones of the walls 16, 18, 20 and 22, a plurality of elongated tlexible tear members 26 are disposed. The tear members 26 extend upwardly to the top of the carton 12 and are provided with looped ends 28 adapted to be manually grasped and pulled upon in order to tear the carton 12 in a manner such that the side walls 16, 18, 20 and 22 may be torn from an article disposed within the container 12. The closure cover 14 may be constructed of any suitable material such as aluminum and is telescopically engaged with the upper end of the container 12.

The container 12 is of the disposable type although the closure cover 14 may be constructed of aluminum in order that one closure cover may be transferred from container to another as numerous containers are used.

The ice cube tray divider assembly 10 includes an upright divider plate 30 and a pair of upright compartment forming assemblies generally referred to by the reference numerals 32 and 34 disposed on opposite sides of the divider plate 30. Each of said compartment forming assemblies 32 and 34 includes an upstanding divider plate element 36 and a pair of upstanding plate-like compartment formingcomponents 38 and 40 disposed on opposite sides of the corresponding divider plate element.

The divider plate elements 36 are substantially planar and are disposed normal to the medial plane of the divider plate 30. Each of the compartment forming components 38 and 4t) includes a plurality of planar platelike portions 42 which are disposed normal to the corresponding divider plate element. Additionally, adjacent ones of the plate-like portions of each compartment forming component are oppositely inclined relative to each other.

Each of the divider plate elements 36 is provided with an upstanding slot 46 and a pivot shaft 4S is secured generally U-shaped member is pivotally secured to the 1 upper end of the divider plate 30 by means of a pivot pin 54. The operator 52 snugly embraces the upper end of the divider plate 311 from opposite sides thereof and it will be noted that the upper edge of the divider plate 30 is inclined thereby enabling the free end of the operator 52 to be urged downwardly, see FIGURE l. The opposite depending legs 56 of the operator 52 which embrace the divider plate 3!) therebetween and through which the pivot fastener 54 is secured are each provided with a bulbous cam portion 58 intermediate its opposite ends. The cam portions 5S are adapted to engage theV adjacent upper side edge portions of the divider plate elements 36 which are relieved as at 663. Further, it will be noted that the upper edge portions of the compartment forming components 3S each include a cornerportion 62 which is also engageable by the bulbous portions 58.

The operator 52 includes a rounded upper edge portion and each of the divider plate elements 36 is bent back upon itself at its upper end as at 64 thereby also forming a rounded upper edge 66. In addition, a rounded bead portion 68 is formed on the lower end of the divider plate 30.

In operation, the ice cube tray divider assembly 10 is first positioned within the container 12. Then, the container 12 may be filled with water and have the closure cover 14 placed thereon. The entire assembly may then -be placed within a refrigerator freezing compartment until the water within the container has been frozen. Then, the container 12 may be removed from the refrigerator and the closure cover 14 may be removed from engagenient withthe container 12. Thereafter, the free end of the operator S2 may be urged downwardly in any convenient manner such as by striking the free end thereof with the palm of theV hand whereupon'the bulbotts portions 5S will wedge between the upper portions of the divider plate elements 36 and force these upper end portions away from each other and opposite sides of the divider plate 36. Still further, the bulbous portions 58 will also urge the four adjacent upper corners of the compartment forming components 38 and thereby pivot the compartment forming components 38 relative to theV divider plate elements 36. However, before the operator 52 has its free end urged downwardly, one or more of the pull members 26 may be utilized to tear the sides of the carton 12 from the ice cube tray divider assembly 1G. If it is desired, the inside of the container 12 may further be treated with'a suitable wax such as that now utilized on metal ice cube trays and compartment forming assemblies in order that the sides of the container 12 may be flexed slightly to break them from the ice disposed thereagainst. In this manner, it would be possible to utilize'each container 12 more than once. Should such a wax coating become ineffective after the subject container has been used several times, inasmuch as the container 12 is designed as a disposable one, the pull member 26 may then be utilized to tear the side walls thereof from the ice in order to gain access to the ice cubes.

Y The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theV principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention ,maare 'k to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An ice cube tray divider assembly comprising an upright divider plate, a pair of upright compartmentforming assemblies disposed on opposite sides of said divider plate and forming, together with said divider plate, a divider assembly which is adapted to be snugly disposed in a suitable container for forming a plurality of water receiving separate compartments in said container, said divider plate and said compartment forming assemblies including coacting means operable to force saidvcompartment forming assemblies away from opposite sides of said divider plate, each of said compartment forming assemblies including an upstanding divider plate element disposed normal to saidV divider plate and a pair of upstanding plate-like compartment forming components disposed on opposite sides of each of saiddivider plate elements, said compartment forming components including plate-like portions disposed normal to said divider plate elements, the lower end portion of each of said compartment forming components being pivotally secured to the corresponding divider plate element.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein adjacent ones of said plate-like portions are oppositely inclined relative to each other.

3. An ice cube tray divider assembly comprising an upright divider plate, a pair or upright compartment forming assemblies disposed on opposite sides of said divider plate and forming, together with said divider plate, said divider assembly which is adapted to be snugly disposed in a suitable container for forming a plurality of water receiving separate compartments in said container, said divider plate and said compartment forming assemblies including coacting means operable to force said compartment forming assemblies away from opposite sides of said divider plate, each of said compartment forming assemblies including an upstanding divider plate element disposed normal to said divider plate, each of said compartment. forming assemblies including a pair of upstandingV plate-like compartment forming components disposed on opposite sides of each of said divider plate elements, said compartment forming components including plate-like portions disposed normal to said divider plate elements, the lower end portion of each of said compartment forming components being pivotally secured to the corresponding divider plate element, adjacent ones of said plate-like portions being oppositely inclined relative to each other, saidl coacting means comprising cam means mounted on said divider plate for movement relative thereto and engageable with portions of said divider plate elements to cam the latter away from said divider plate.

References Cited bythe Examinerv UNITED STATES PATENTS 809,05) 1/06 Goldmann 229-51 1,166,623 1/16 vlNyers 62-355 1,970,712 8/34 Snodgrass l07'-19.2 2,132,248 10/38 Toyne 62-359 2,168,678 8/39 Miner 62-364 2,320,534 6/43 Osborn 62-366 2,778,201 1/57 Schweller 62-366 3,097,786 7/ 63 Militana 229--51 FOREIGN PATENTS 547,926 6/56 Belgium.

956,228 1/ 57 Germany.

ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examnn 

1. AN INCE CUBE TRAY DIVIDER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AN UPRIGHT DIVIDER PLATE, A PAIR OF UPRIGHT COMPARTMENT FORMING ASSEMBLIES DISPOSED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID DIVIDER PLATE AND FORMING, TOGETHER WITH SAID DIVIDER PLATE, A DIVIDER ASSEMBLY WHICH IS ADAPTED TO BE SNUGLY DISPOSED IN A SUITABLE CONTAINER FOR FORMING A PLURALITY OF WATER RECEIVING SEPARATE COMPARTMENTS IN SAID CONTAINER, SAID DIVIDER PLATE AND SAID COMPARTMENT FORMING ASSEMBLIES INCLUDING COACTING MEANS OPERABLE TO FORCE SAID COMPARTMENT FORMING ASSEMBLIES AWAY FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID DIVIDER PLATE, EACH OF SAID COMPARTMENT FORMING ASSEMBLIES INCLUDING AN UPSTANDING DIVIDER PLATE ELEMENT DISPOSED NORMAL TO SAID DIVIDER PLATE AND A PAIR OF UPSTANDING PLATE-LIKE COMPARTMENT FORMING COMPONENTS DISPOSED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF EACH OF SAID DIVIDER PLATE ELEMENTS, SAID COMPARTMENT FORMING COMPONENTS INCLUDING PLATE-LIKE PORTIONS DISPOSED NORMAL TO SAID DIVIDER PLATE ELEMENTS, THE LOWER END PORTION OF EACH OF SAID COMPARTMENT FORMING COMPONENTS BEING PIVOTALLY SECURED TO THE CORRESPONDING DIVIDER PLATE ELEMENT. 